Tree Swallow
Updated: Apr. 24, 2020The hardiest swallow, it arrives early in spring and even winters over in some localities. When insects are unavailable, the Tree Swallow feeds mostly on bayberries; some wintering birds have also been seen picking seeds from pond ice.
Photos
Information
Scientific Name: Tachycineta bicolor.
Family: Swallow.
Length: 5-3/4 inches.
Wingspan: 14-1/2 inches.
Distinctive Markings: Iridescent greenish-blue above and white below. Female may be duller.
Nest: Female builds nest in a cavity using grass, needles and feathers, and lays up to eight white eggs.
Voice: Typically an early-morning singer, the song is a pleasant gurgling chatter when in flight.
Habitat: Open areas with scattered trees and water.
Diet: Insects, berries and seeds.
Backyard Favorites: Native plants to attract bugs; feathers in a suet cage or on the lawn for nesting material. Nest boxes designed for bluebirds also attract this swallow.
Bird Song & Range Map
Listen to the Tree Swallow’s song and learn where to spot them!
Bird songs provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Range maps provided by Kaufman Field Guides, the official field guide of Birds & Blooms.
